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Why is my car jerking after the engine light came on?

On my way home from work, my car suddenly started jerking and the check engine light came on. I was able to get home okay, but it happened out of nowhere, so it really freaked me out. Why is my car jerking after the engine light came on?

avatar
Melanie Mergen · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
That sounds like it was a scary experience—glad to hear you were able to make it home safely! A car jerking and your
check engine light
coming on are two symptoms that can be tied to a number of different problems with your vehicle, so you’ll want to get it to a mechanic as soon as possible to get to the bottom of the issue.
Some of those problems could be related to worn-out spark plugs, fuel system blockages, damaged engine cylinders, faulty sensors, damaged acceleration cables, or dirty air filters or fuel injectors, to name a few. Depending on the issue, it could be an easy fix or one that needs extensive repair, but you don’t want to risk
further damage
to your vehicle, so having it looked at isn’t something you want to put off.
While you’re having your vehicle inspected, it’s also a good idea to make sure your current
car insurance policy
is still the right one for you and your vehicle. With the
Jerry
app, you can quickly and easily compare competitive quotes from top car insurance providers, all in one place.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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